Employer Health Tax

The 2017 Ontario Budget has announced changes to eliminate the EHT exemption for any employer that is a designated member of a partnership, as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) section 125. This change will be effective on a prescribed date no earlier than January 1, 2018. Learn more.

Employer Health Tax (EHT) is a payroll tax on remuneration paid to employees and former employees.

Effective January 1, 2014, the EHT exemption increased to $450,000 from $400,000 of Ontario payroll.

To be able to claim the tax exemption, employers must be eligible employers as defined under the EHT Act. Employers who have a municipal representative on their board of directors, or who are under the control of any level of government, are generally not eligible employers.

Employers normally cannot claim the exemption if their Ontario payroll for the year (including the payroll of any associated employers) is over $5 million. However, eligible employers who are registered charities can claim the exemption even if their payroll exceeds $5 million.

Effective January 1, 2017, special rules apply to eligible employers who are registered charities.

Tax rates

The EHT rates vary from 0.98% on Ontario payroll less than $200,000, up to 1.95% for payroll in excess of $400,000.

The amount of EHT you, as an employer, pay is calculated by multiplying your Ontario payroll for the year – after deducting any tax exemption – by the applicable tax rate. The tax rate is based on the Ontario payroll of the employer before deducting any tax exemption.

Total Ontario remuneration

Rate

Up to $200,000.00

0.98%

$200,000.01 to $230,000.00

1.101%

$230,000.01 to $260,000.00

1.223%

$260,000.01 to $290,000.00

1.344%

$290,000.01 to $320,000.00

1.465%

$320,000.01 to $350,000.00

1.586%

$350,000.01 to $380,000.00

1.708%

$380,000.01 to $400,000.00

1.829%

Over $400,000.00

1.95%

The tax rate for a multiple account employer is based on the combined Ontario payroll of all the employer's accounts.

The tax rate for an associated employer is based on the Ontario payroll for that employer.

For example, an employer with $175,000 of Ontario payroll, and who does not have any tax exemption, would have a tax rate of 0.98%, and would pay EHT of $1,715 for the year.

Instalment payments: Ontario payroll over $600,000

Employers with an annual Ontario payroll over $600,000 have to make monthly employer health tax instalment payments.

Employers who are eligible for a tax exemption, and who have Ontario payroll over $600,000, have to make monthly instalments as soon as their payroll exceeds their allowable exemption amount.

Employers with an annual Ontario payroll of $600,000 or less do not need to make instalment payments.

How do I file an EHT return?

The Ministry of Finance will mail you a personalized annual return. If you did not receive a return, you should contact the Ministry of Finance. You should also contact the ministry when your Ontario payroll for the year exceeds your allowable exemption amount.

If you receive an annual return, you must complete it and send it to the ministry, even if no EHT is payable. If you are not an associated employer, once you submit a nil return, the ministry will stop sending you annual returns automatically.

Special returns (Remuneration paid once a year)

Employers who pay their entire Ontario payroll in one month need to file a special EHT return within 15 days following the month in which the payroll was paid. Eligible employers are required to file a special return if their Ontario payroll in one month exceeds their available exemption amount.

Final returns

Employers who amalgamate, cease to have a permanent establishment in Ontario, or who are ceasing operations in Ontario, are required to file a final return within 40 days of ceasing operations. For most employers, 'ceasing operations' would likely be the last date of payroll.

Due dates

Annual returns are due March 15th of the following calendar year.

Special returns are due on the 15th of the month after the payroll was paid.

Final returns are due 40 days after your business closes or the amalgamation date.

To obtain the most current version of this document, visit ontario.ca/finance and enter 49 in the find page field at the bottom of the webpage or contact the ministry at 1 866 668-8297 (1 800 263-7776 for teletypewriter).